Method and device for constituting a continuous stream of a plurality of superposed layers of rod-shaped objects such as cigarettes

ABSTRACT

Method of constituting a continuous stream of a plurality of superposed layers of rod-shaped objects, such as cigarettes comprising the steps of introducing successively objects in at least one point of a first continuous stream of said objects and introducing further objects from below under the lower layer of said first stream and device for carrying out the method.

Jan. 9, 1973 United States Patent 1 Flesselles et al.

' [58] FieldoiSearch...

[54] METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONSTITUTING A CONTINUOUS STREAM OF A PLURALITY OF [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,159,791 7/1969 Great Britain ..198/20 C both of Fleury-les-Aubrais, France [73] Assignee: Service D Exploitation lndustrielle Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka Attorney-Sparrow & Sparrow Des Tabacs Et Des Allumettes, Paris, France [57] ABSTRACT Method of constituting a continuous stream of aplu- [22] Filed: Jan. 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 106,098

rality of superposed layers of rod-shaped objects, such as cigarettes comprising the steps of introducing suc- [30] Foreign Application Priority Data cessively objects in at least one point of a first continuous stream of said objects and introducing further Jan, 16, 1970 France......

objects from below under the lower layer of said first stream and device for carrying out the method.

[52] U.S. Cl....................................198/35, 198/20 C [51] Int. ....B65g 57/32 2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure out the method.

It is conventional practice to form a continuous stream of several superposed layers by placing the cigarettes which constitute one layer over the layers of the stream which has already been formed. An operation of this type presents difficulties because, unless special means are provided, the cigarettes run the risk of being damaged or of being conveyed out of order in the transfer zones.

The method and device according to the invention makes it possible by virtue of particularly simple means to unit moving streams by inserting successive streams beneath the layers which have previously been formed.

This invention is also concerned with a device for carrying out the method whereby a main path which is located at a higher level is joined to a number of upward paths corresponding to the number of production machines. The main conveying path which is substantially horizontal will be constituted in accordance with the invention by the top runs of perforated endless belts, said runs being located successively at a short distance from each other and joined to each other by means of flaps which pivot freely on a shaft, said shaft being mounted at the downstream end of each top run. Each affluent conveying path thus terminates in a gap which is formed between the top runs referred-to above and is constituted by the upward run of a conveyor belt. The arrangement is completed by placing both the internal path of each upward run and the upstream portion of each top run in adjacent relation to a vacuumchamber inlet.

The single FIGURE of the accompanying drawings shows one mode of application of the method and device according to the present invention.

The production machines which are represented by the reference numerals l, 2 and 3 deliver cigarettes respectively to the conveyor-belts 4, 5 and 6 which move in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The upward runs of the conveyor-belts 7, 8, 9 pass in proximity to the points of discharge of the conveyorbelts 4, 5, 6 respectively. Said conveyor-belts move in the direction indicated by the arrows and are guided by pulleys such as those designated by the reference numerals 10, l1, l2 and 13. The belts 7, 8, 9 are perforated and the internal path both of the upward run of each belt and of the upstream portion of the top run of said belt is adjacent to the inlet of each vacuum chamber 14. A pivotal flap is mounted on the shaft of each idler pulley 12. The length of said flap is such as to permit this latter to rest on the upstream extremity of the top run of each belt 7, 8, 9.

The angle a which is an obtuse angle in the example shown in the FIGURE could also be either a right angle or an acute angle.

The device operates as follows: the cigarettes produced by the machines 1, 2, 3 are conveyed by the belts 4, 5, 6 and brought into contact with the belts 7, 8 and 9. Suction is applied through the upward runs of said belts 7, 8 and 9 and these latter then take the cigarettes one by one and transport these latter in wholly orderly array, the axis of each cigarette being perpendicular to the direction of transfer. When arriving at the top point of each upward run, said cigarettes lift the flap 15, are then introduced beneath the layer or layers which come from the upstream machines and support said layers. In fact, the affluent cigarettes are continuously maintained in position during their curvilinear displacement around the pulleys 11 as well as over a short distance of their horizontal path of travel on the top run of each conveyor-belt. The pulley 12 at the end of the downstream conveying path of one of the conveying belts and the pulley 11 at the upstream conveying path of an adjacent or adjoining conveying belt is separated by a space having a width such as to permit the passage of the cigarettes carried by the said upstream conveying path.

The resulting superposed plurality of layers of the rod-shaped objects, such as cigarettes, built up by the conveyors may be fed to a package receptacle, packing machine or tray filling apparatus.

The affluent cigarettes introduced beneath the layers which come from the upstream machines form with said layers a continuous stream of several superposed layers which is fed by the downstream conveyor to any type of bin or package receptacle or machine.

What we claim is:

l. A device for constituting a continuous stream of a plurality of superposed layers of rod-shaped objects, such as cigarettes, comprising an upstream endless conveying belt and at least one downstream endless conveying belt, said upstream belt and said downstream belt having each an upper run and an upward run, the upper runs of said conveying belts forming respectively an upstream conveying path and a downstream conveying path, said upstream conveying path being separated from said downstream conveying path by a space having a width such as to permit the passage of said objects respectively, said upward run of said downstream conveying belt having means for supplying objects on said downstream path through said space, a flap mounted above said space so as to connect said upstream conveying path and said downstream conveying path when it is in its down position and to allow for the passage of an object to said downstream conveying path when in its up position, said supplying upward run being perforated, and vacuum chambers having inlets contiguous to said upward run and to the upstream part of the upper run of said downstream conveying belt.

2. Device according to claim 1 wherein said flap is pivotingly mounted about an axis located at the downstream part of said upstream conveying path. 

1. A device for constituting a continuous stream of a plurality of superposed layers of rod-shaped objects, such as cigarettes, comprising an upstream endless conveying belt and at least one downstream endless conveying belt, said upstream belt and said downstream belt having each an upper run and an upward run, the upper runs of said conveying belts forming respectively an upstream conveying path and a downstream conveying path, said upstream conveying path being separated from said downstream conveying path by a space having a width such as to permit the passage of said objects respectively, said upward run of said downstream conveying belt having means for supplying objects on said downstream path through said space, a flap mounted above said space so as to connect said upstream conveying path and said downstream conveying path when it is in its down position and to allow for the passage of an object to said downstream conveying path when in its up position, said supplying upward run being perforated, and vacuum chambers having inlets contiguous to said upward run and to the upstream part of the upper run of said downstream conveying belt.
 2. Device according to claim 1 wherein said flap is pivotingly mounted about an axis located at the downstream part of said upstream conveying path. 